Alum Honored as ‘Inspiring Professor’

Luis Gonzalez Lopez wins award from Tecnologico de Monterrey

Dr. Luis Gerardo Gonzalez Lopez at Fielding graduation in 2017

Alum Luis Gerardo Gonzalez Lopez, PhD, received the Inspiring Professor 2018 Award from the Tecnologico de Monterrey in Mexico, where he teaches, for his outstanding work as a professor, academic leader, and educator.

He teaches organizational behvior, organizational culture, and innovation and psychology, within the university’s Business School.

More than 10,000 professors teach at this university, which has 26 campuses. This year there were 207 nominees for the award, all considered high-impact professors on their respective campuses. Of these applications, there were seven finalists and three winners.

Luis Gerardo, originally from Guadalajara, has his own style when it comes to teaching his classes. He finds a way to help his students stay focused. “I like games and I like to develop an experience in the classroom,” he told his university blog.

Dr. Gonzalez Lopez at Fielding Summer Session, 2017

Part of Dr. Gonzalez Lopez’ success in becoming a teacher is the constant innovation and the capacity he has to adapt to the different generations of students. He constantly strives to keep up with trends and educational tools.

“Each generation of students is different,” he says. “What works with some probably doesn’t work with the following ones.” So each class should be different; you can have a routine, but you have to ensure that there are certain elements that keep the attention of students.

“What I do is make them interact with each other, so that in their different ways of seeing the world they complement their ideas and propose integral solutions,” he says, adding that part of the success of teaching his classes is due to there being a great diversity of students, different semesters and ages that study different careers.

With fellow graduate Sam Jama

“For me, my classes should always be a unique experience,” he says. “You also have to be very sensitive to know how to adapt to the groups and if something is not working change it at the moment.”